2021 AFC Cup qualifying play-offs

The following 7 teams, split into five zones (West Asia Zone, Central Asia Zone, South Asia Zone, ASEAN Zone, East Asia Zone), entered the qualifying play-offs, consisting of three rounds:

• 4 teams entered in the preliminary round 1.
• 3 teams entered in the preliminary round 2.

In the qualifying play-offs, each tie was played as a single match. Extra time and penalty shoot-out were used to decide the winner if necessary.^[2]

The schedule of each round was as follows.^[1][3][4]

The bracket of the qualifying play-offs for each zone was determined based on each team's association ranking, with the team from the higher-ranked association hosting the match. The one winner of preliminary round 2 (from ASEAN Zone) and one winner of the play-off round (from South Zone) advanced to the group stage to join the 35 direct entrants.^[5]

• Both teams advanced to Group C.^{[note 1]}

	Play-off round
	Markaz Shabab Al-Am'ari	—
	Al-Kuwait	—

• Bengaluru advanced to Group D.

	Preliminary round 1				Preliminary round 2				Play-off round
					14 April
					Bengaluru	5
	7 April
					Nepal Army Club	0
	Nepal Army Club	5
									15 August
	Sri Lanka Police	1
									Bengaluru	1
									Eagles	0
					Abahani Limited Dhaka	—
	7 April
					Eagles (w/o)	—
	Eagles	2
	Thimphu City	0

• Winners of Preliminary round 2 would have advanced to Group G.^{[note 3]}

	Preliminary round 2				Play-off round
					Hanthawady United	—
					Winners of ASEAN 2.1 (w/o)	—
	Chanthabouly	—
	Kasuka	—

• Persipura Jayapura advanced to Group H, while Visakha and Lalenok United advanced to Group I.^{[note 3]}

	Preliminary round 2				Play-off round
					Persipura Jayapura	—
					Winners of ASEAN 2.2	—
	Visakha	—
	Lalenok United	—

A total of four teams played in the preliminary round 1.

South Asia Zone

Team 1	Score	Team 2
Nepal Army Club	5–1	Sri Lanka Police
Eagles	2–0	Thimphu City

7 April 2021 (2021-04-07)

17:30 UTC+5:45

Nepal Army Club	5–1	Sri Lanka Police
Tamang 41' Shrestha 43', 90+3' Basnet 50' Rai 83'	Report	Asante 28'

Dasharath Rangasala, Kathmandu

Attendance: 2,470

Referee: Ahmad Al Ali (Kuwait)

7 April 2021 (2021-04-07)

16:00 UTC+5

Eagles	2–0	Thimphu City
Ahmed 10' Naim 90'	Report

National Football Stadium, Malé

Attendance: 25

Referee: Nasrullo Kabirov (Tajikistan)

A total of eight teams played in the preliminary round 2: six teams which entered in this round, and two winners of the preliminary round 1.

South Asia Zone

Team 1	Score	Team 2
Bengaluru	5–0	Nepal Army Club
Abahani Limited Dhaka	Cancelled[note 2]	Eagles

ASEAN Zone

Team 1	Score	Team 2
Chanthabouly	Cancelled[note 3]	Kasuka
Visakha	Cancelled[note 3]	Lalenok United

14 April 2021 (2021-04-14)

19:30 UTC+5:30

Bengaluru	5–0	Nepal Army Club
Bheke 51', 65' Chhetri 52' Silva 61', 65'	Report

GMC Athletic Stadium, Bambolim

Attendance: 0

Referee: Ali Reda (Lebanon)

^{[note 4]}

Abahani Limited Dhaka	Cancelled[note 2]	Eagles
	Report

^{[note 5]}

--:-- 

Chanthabouly	Cancelled	Kasuka
	Report

^{[note 5]}

Visakha	Cancelled	Lalenok United
	Report

A total of eight teams played in the play-off round: four teams which entered in this round, and four winners of the preliminary round 2.

West Asia Zone

Team 1	Score	Team 2
Markaz Shabab Al-Am'ari	Cancelled[note 1]	Al-Kuwait

South Asia Zone

Team 1	Score	Team 2
Bengaluru	1–0	Eagles

ASEAN Zone

Team 1	Score	Team 2
Hanthawady United	Cancelled[note 3]	Winners of ASEAN 2.1
Persipura Jayapura	Cancelled[note 3]	Winners of ASEAN 2.2

^{[note 6]}

Markaz Shabab Al-Am'ari	Cancelled[note 1]	Al-Kuwait
	Report

15 August 2021 (2021-08-15)^{[note 7]}

20:00 UTC+5

Bengaluru	1–0	Eagles
Rane 26'	Report

National Football Stadium, Malé

Attendance: 0

Referee: Qasim Al-Hatmi (Oman)

^{[note 8]}

Hanthawady United	Cancelled[note 3]	Winners of ASEAN 2.1
	Report

^{[note 8]}

Persipura Jayapura	Cancelled[note 3]	Winners of ASEAN 2.2
	Report